Chapter 21
Arjun looked outside from the taxi….they were almost near the place. Anurag said that he didn't know where the warehouse was exactly located…….so Arjun and Mamaji had to search for it.
Well Arjun also didn't trust Anurag totally……it could be that he is making a story to keep himself safe.
Anurag said that he was not involved in this gang activity……he only knew the gang's leader Anish. When Raghav and Sia had saved the guy from getting beaten……one of Anish group's member had seen Raghav. Later that day….when Anish came to see Anurag at the Academy…….that group member had identified Raghav there. Anurag took advantage of the situation as he was irritated with Raghav's attitude and so he had asked Anish to teach Raghav a lesson. Anish was also angry at Raghav…and so……that car attack. But he didn't expect Raghav to cause damage to his car and so he got madder at Raghav!!! And as a result things worsened!!
But according to Anurag…he had no idea about today's attack!! It was later when Anish called him to say that Raghav and Sia were locked in a warehouse…that he came to know about the situation.
Anyway…..that's different…for now Arjun had to locate the warehouse………and get Raghav and Sia.
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" Pushpa! Dhyaan se!", said Raghav.
The street was not well lightened…..the street lights were glowing dimly……Sia could not see what lay ahead of her! She was also feeling thirsty and hungry now….a bit dizzy again!
Thank God she was holding Raghav's hand……otherwise she would have fallen down at every instance!
Since they have got out on the other side of the warehouse……this was not the same route through which they had come earlier…and in this half lightened way Raghav could not understand where they were going.
The street was flanked mostly by some shacks and some shops. Raghav had asked at one of the better looking shops the way to the main road…..and the person there had told him to walk straight and then take a left turn.
"Ahh!", cried Sia…..her foot had again hit a stone!!
"Uff!! Pushpa!! Thoda to dekhke chalo!!!", shouted Raghav!
"Kaise dekhu?? Kuch bhi nahi dikh raha he!!
Raghav rolled his eyes. He wondered how this girl does those footworks in the ring…when she can't even walk a few steps properly!!
"Lagi to nahi he na?", he asked gently.
"Nahi!!", Sia replied back.
Raghav smiled sensing Sia's anger.
"Kya tumhe godi me utha ke le jaoon??", he asked, " To tum nahi giroge"
"Ha sahi!", Sia mocked Raghav, " Kyunki phir hum dono hi girenge!"
Raghav was laughing.
"Kya Pushpa..tum bhi na…itna romatic offer dia…aur tum……."
Raghav stopped midway. He could see lights and hear sounds!
"Kya hua?", asked Sia, " bolte bolte ruk kyun gaye?"
"Kyunki…..hum paunch gaye he!!!", Raghav pointed towards the mouth of the street that opened to the main road.
Sia had never seen such an assuring sight before!
Such a huge road lay in front of her…so many vehicles were passing by at tremendous speeds….….people walking, crossing, running…..no one even bothered to look at them! So many huge hoardings….such chaos…..different smells…….lights………Sia felt like they had taken an off track from life's journey….and now they were again back to it!
Raghav could feel the same vibe as Sia.
He looked at Sia…….and she also looked at him.
They didn't say anything…only their eyes spoke………as a winning smile hung on their lips.
They were finally at the main road…….they had made it this far……now just a few more steps…….
…….destination was not too far away……
Raghav saw the road name….they were standing on the right side. They had to take a ride from this side only to reach the Academy. But the problem was this was high traffic time….and it was very difficult to get a taxi or autorickshaw now. Raghav dared not get onto a bus now…it would take an eternity to reach Academy!
They tried to stop a few private cars going the same direction…..but no one stopped.
"Thode age jate he…wahaan se shayad koi autorikshaw mil jaye", said Sia.
"Thik he…thoda age chalte he…waise bhi yahhan kuch bhi nahi mil raha he!!", said an irritated Raghav.
At every phase……hurdles just kept coming! First he got a window but Sia didn't want to get out alone. Then when they got out…the street became dangerous! Now when they were at the main road….no rides could be found!!!
"Aaj din hi pura kharab he!!", remarked Raghav.
"Aise kyun bol rahe ho??", said Sia, " itne dur tak bahar to agaye na…..bhagwan humare madat zaroor karenge!"
Almost immediately a taxi stopped abruptly in front of them!
They stopped walking!
"Bhagwan…sach much taxi bhej dia?", asked Raghav.
Sia was surprised…….She could see 2 persons sitting inside. If the taxi was full…why did it stop?? Or may be…..could it be those goons were back again???
Sia was about to tug Raghav back when the door opened…….and out came Arjun!!
"JUNO!!!! Mere bhagwan tu hi he aaj se!!!", shouted Raghav on seeing Arjun!
"SIA!! RAGHAV!!! Tum dono thik ho??", Arjun came towards them hurriedly.
Mamaji got down and came running…….he was more than relieved and happy to find Sia safe and secure!
"Sia mere bachi!!", he hugged her, " tu thik he na??"
"Mamaji!!..me thik hoon!!"
"Hum e jana he jaldi se", said Arjun, " Chalo tum dono..gari me utho abhi!!!"
Raghav, Sia and Mamaji sat at the back while Arjun sat by the driver. The taxi left immediately!
"Uff! Juno!! Tu sach me prove kar diya ki tu hi Headboy ban ne ka layak he!!", said Raghav.
"Kya bakwas kar raha he!", said Arjun, " Tum dono thik ho na?? Kahi laga to nahi??"
"We are fine Juno!", said Raghav, "...wo gunde to ek……EK MINUTE!! GARI ROKO!! GARI ROKO!!"
The taxi stopped again!
"Ab kya hua???", asked Arjun, " Gari kyun rok raha he??"
"Ha….der ho raha he Raghav…kya hua??", asked Sia.
Raghav got down from the taxi and went into a food shop!
"Yah kya..ise abhi khana khana he??", Arjun asked confusedly, " Kar kya raha he?? time nahi he..aur yeh time pass kar raha he?"
"Sia….tujhe kahi chot to nahi lagi?", Mamaji asked.
"Mamaji me thik hoon….chot nahi lagi…..bas thoda tired hoon", said Sia, "……par aap logo ko kaise pata chala??"
Arjun was calling Coach KV to inform him that they have found Raghav and Sia and were returning back. While the call was getting connected Arjun turned back and said,
"Anurag ne bataya….wo bohot guilty feel kar raha he!"
"KYA??!!! Guilty??", Sia shouted, " ghatiya ladka!! Usse to me….."
Sia paused as Arjun gestered her to stop…Coach was on the line. Arjun told him that both Raghav and Sia were fine.
Sia looked outside wondering what the hell Raghav was doing in the shop?? There was so little time left….is this the time for picnic??
"Coach Sir said that he have talked to the authorities…...", said Arjun while putting the phone down, "wo log baat ko samjhe he……tumhe ab tak venue me hona chahiye tha….iss baat ko nazar andaz kie he……..par extra time nahi denge…match will begin at 8 only!!"
" Chalo thik he", said Sia with a smile, " Itna to mila…..hope hum paunch jayenge"
"Thoda time picha dete to kya ho bigar jata??", said an angry Mamaji, " kitna kam samai he………aur waise Gari jaega to paunchenge na?? Raghav gaya kaha???"
Then only Raghav came out and then got in the taxi with a packet.
"Chaliye ab…jitna jaldi ho sake!", said Raghav grinning, " Bas zinda rakhiega!"
The taxi started again.
"Kya kar kya raha tha tu??", asked Arjun.
Raghav took out a sandwitch and then a bottle of 'Nimbooz' and gave them both to Sia. Sia took them confusedly as both Mamaji and Arjun watched in surprise.
"Kya dekh kya rahi ho?", said Raghav to Sia, " Khao jaldi se……do pahar ke baad kuch nahi khayi he….fight kya sympathy se jitoge??"
Sia looked at the things in her hand. A light chicken sandwitch……will give her strength…but will not make her feel loaded prior to the match. And lime water……..instant energy…..
Sia looked at Raghav………not knowing what to say…….
How he does this? At every other moment….by doing such small things….how could he always manage to show this enormous amount of love and care for her? Should she feel proud that her boyfriend was Raghav…or should she feel lucky??
Sia smiled and then bit into a small amount of sandwitch and then drank the lime water.
Arjun again turned straight and looked ahead……….he was smiling too.
Mamaji was a bit angry at Raghav…..he felt like it was partly Raghav's fault that Sia had got locked there…but now……..he felt very amazed. Raghav himself have also not eaten anything…..but he had bought food only for Sia……
Raghav looked at the watch…….there was still 30 minutes time. They would make it within time for sure!
"Yahhan se right lelo", said Raghav, " Jaldi paunchenge!"
The driver took a right turn and soon Sia could see the walls of Academy!!
Within 2, 3 minutes they were at the Gate of APK ACADEMY!!!!
"Jaldi, jaldi…..tum log Sia ko le jao", said Mamaji, " Me paise de kar ata hoon"
Raghav, Sia and Arjun ran through the campuss, up the stairs and through the corridors! Some media persons were roaming around…waiting for the match to begin….they watched in surprise as the 3 ran past them in full speed!!
"BAS!! Bas!! Agaye!!", shouted Sia.
They stopped running…..all of them were panting!
"SIA!!!", Naina, Coach, Gauti and Anurag all exclaimed at her!!
"Sia…tum thik ho?", " Sia tu thik he?", "Tumhe chot to nahi lagi?"…….different questions were getting thrown at her from all sides! Sia could hardly breathe now….she gestured everyone to stop and indicated that she was fine.
"Sia….go to the changing room……", said Coach, " only 20 minutes is left now…jaldi se ready ho jao..Naina please help her!"
Sia looked at Raghav once……..and smiled at him. And then she walked towards the changing room with Naina.
Naina was already carrying her boxing kit and her dress…….she was glad that Sia had reached within time!!!
Coach now turned to Arjun and Raghav.
"Tum thik ho na Raghav??", he asked.
Raghav was leaning against a pillar…..he was tired from all this running. He immediately stood straight and said yes.
"Good job both of you", said Coach, " Me venue me ja raha hoon…..I have to inform the judges"
As soon as Coach left……Raghav again leaned against the pillar…….he was feeling hungry and thirsty.
"Gauti…mere liye thoda pani le ana please", Raghav said.
Gauti nodded and left to get some water. Only Arjun and Anurag were there in the place with Raghav.
"Uff!! Kya din tha!", remarked Raghav…and then he again looked at Arjun in alarm, " Kahi tu Mom ko call to nahi kia he??"
"Wo to kar na hi tha……matlab wo…"
"KYA!!???", Raghav shouted, " Juno tu yeh kyun karta he?? ab…."
"Don't worry…..mene tere Dad ko call kia tha….and mene unhe bol dia he ki tu thik he….tere mom khamoka tense hote…"
"Wah!! Dad ko call kia he!! Kya Mom ko Dad se pata nahi chalega??", said Raghav…..he looked tensed, " ab pata nahi phirse kaise kaise sawal karenge?"
Gauti came with the bottle of water……Mamaji also came with him.
Raghav drank the water and then said to them, " Aap log vanue me chaliye….match shuru hone me thoda hi time he……me aur Juno ate he abhi…"
Arjun looked at Raghav once wondering why was he trying to get Mamaji and Gauti out? But Mamaji and Gauti didn't ask anything. Mamaji told Raghav and Arjun to come soon and left along with Gauti.
As soon as Mamaji and Gauti left………Raghav turned to Anurag!
Anurag was now standing at a corner…now suddenly he was panicking seeing both Raghav and Arjun together in front of him!
"Kyun…plan flop ho gaya??", asked Raghav.
"Raghav…I swear…mujhe pata nahi tha……aaj wo log aisa kuch karenge mujhe pata nahi tha…"
Arjun had already told Anurag's side of story to Raghav in the taxi……..but still even if Anurag had nothing to do with today's plan…it was because of him it had all started.
"……I am sorry Raghav….I am really…me Sia ki boxing career ruin nahi karna chahta tha…isisliye to sab kuch bata dia Coach Sir ko!! Trust me! Me Anish ko mana bhi kia tha!"
" par mujhpar to hamla karwaye the na?", said Raghav, " Consider yourself lucky ki Coach Sir tumhare bareme complain nahi kar rahe he….varna tumhara Boxing career 'Ruin' ho jata!!!!"
"Chor ise", said Arjun, " Baad me isse deal karenge…..match shuru hojaega.."
Raghav was seriously angry at Anurag…..for the times he had tried to flirt with Sia, for the times he had misbehaved with Raghav……for trying to damage Raghav's car and for putting a threat on Sia's life!
"Mujhe pata nahi tha aisa ho jaega…….", said Anurag.
" Listen carefully! Tum uss Anish ko humare samne khara karo jitna jaldi ho sake……..!!!", said Raghav, " Varna me bhi dekhta hoon…kitna BOXING karke ladkiyo ko impress karte ho tum iss Academy me!!!"
Anurag nodded in a yes. Raghav and Arjun were about to leave the room…when Raghav turned back once more. Arjun watched as Raghav again walked towards Anurag…….
"Ek aur baat bolna tha"
Raghav gave a solid punch to Anurag on his right cheek!!!
Anurag fell on the floor loudly!! He looked at Raghav holding his right cheek…it was paining immensely!! May be a tooth has come loose!!
"Me bhi ek Boxer hoon…. …better watch out!"
Raghav said and left the room.
Arjun just smiled looking at Anurag's surprised expression and then he left too.
Match will begin soon.
Index on the 1st Page
Edited by sakura_bb - 12 years ago
Pyaar Kii Ye Ek Kahaani
Kabhi Neem Neem Kabhi Shahad Shahad
Shiv Shakti
